In general the monkey smells better too…I should like to meet this monkey, sounds like fun. And better than some lead players I've played with.
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Guitarists looking down on bassists?
- Thread starter Cadillac_Mike
- Start date
So you don’t play out that much then?
A situation where another musician is looking down on you has at least two possible reasons:
Option1) The other person is musically uneducated, a guitard, or both. Go find a better crowd of people.
Option 2) You suck as a musician. Practice harder.
BTW, some piano players have this issue as well. Usually the one that is helping you by using all 5 fingers of his left hand.
The codeword among pros is "Deaf", meaning the player doesn't really hear the music.
Option1) The other person is musically uneducated, a guitard, or both. Go find a better crowd of people.
Option 2) You suck as a musician. Practice harder.
BTW, some piano players have this issue as well. Usually the one that is helping you by using all 5 fingers of his left hand.
The codeword among pros is "Deaf", meaning the player doesn't really hear the music.
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Doesn't it really just depend on how tall the guitarist is ..... Sorry - couldn't resist - Kelly
In my 30+ years of playing I've shared Plenty jokes about drummer /bassist / guitarist / lead singer with fellow bandmates. But never encountered honest , heart felt disregard.
This is humor and trivial comments, and it's okay.
But the guitarist in my band only seeks to find the arrangements that best accompany the song, even if the bass shines more than the guitar. I don't think he's the only one.
But the guitarist in my band only seeks to find the arrangements that best accompany the song, even if the bass shines more than the guitar. I don't think he's the only one.
Seems that for some, there's always someone to punch down on to raise themselves up. Some guitarists on bass players, guitarists and bass players on drummers, jazz cats on rockers, both on blues players and so it goes on.
For me it's all BS, there are idiots and the insecure everywhere in all walks of life, it's best just to ignore them most of the time. I try to avoid playing music with the sorts of people who have superiority complexes, or massive egos. Playing music is, or should be a pleasure and there's enough s**t in life in general, without having it in music as well.
(I really should stick to the Luthier section....
)
For me it's all BS, there are idiots and the insecure everywhere in all walks of life, it's best just to ignore them most of the time. I try to avoid playing music with the sorts of people who have superiority complexes, or massive egos. Playing music is, or should be a pleasure and there's enough s**t in life in general, without having it in music as well.
(I really should stick to the Luthier section....
)
file this under:
Things Not to Care/Worry About
Things Not to Care/Worry About
If you are talking about immature guitarists, you may be right. But among pros and seasoned players, I never see a single musician in any combo looking down on the bass player.
I think the reason this thread gets done a billion times is because of the inferiority complex so many bass players have. Which is the responsibility of no one but that bass player.
I have never been looked down on by people I play with. Being able to bring more than roots to the table probably helps a good bit.
I think we've all played with "those kinds of players", the ones that dismiss bass as a necessary evil.
It's all a matter of carefully choosing your bandmates. My experience has been that in our present 3 pc formation my bass is much more important to the overall sound than it was when the band had 6 members w/keys.
It's all a matter of carefully choosing your bandmates. My experience has been that in our present 3 pc formation my bass is much more important to the overall sound than it was when the band had 6 members w/keys.
God made me 6'5" tall. I have yet to encounter a guitar player who looked down on me.
Guitarists looking down on bassists?
sounds like you have some experience with both, eh?
this is a place where your own kind can't eat you! they just nibble. 
sounds like you have some experience with both, eh?
just another TB benefit!
this is a place where your own kind can't eat you! they just nibble. my point, too. all of my serious gigging was with real musicians (so it was about music, playing tunes!).... and none of them looked down on anybody. IME: pro-types tend to be supportive and respectful of each other (like a professional courtesy!) when music is involved. i'd think that most of the players here operate that way.
Bwahahaha...about 6 times per monthSo you don’t play out that much then?
It’s double edged. I play bass and guitar but my pronoun is bassist.
The bass player has to manage the root and has maybe less tolerance for error. But a bassist who is stuck in the mindset that they aren’t permitted to explore the neighborhood of the root is a bass player who can be replaced by a keyboard.
For me the balance is to own the pocket but also take a look ‘round the front yard of the pocket once in a while. And not “notes” related but eye contact with the audience helps dispel the attitude too. Playing guitar is hard too. And if you’re honest, your bootay hears the bass but your ears are with the guitar for most people. I love being a bassist but I also love performing and writing so that’s my hill to die on, playing the bass doesn’t mean you have to play every stereotype.
The bass player has to manage the root and has maybe less tolerance for error. But a bassist who is stuck in the mindset that they aren’t permitted to explore the neighborhood of the root is a bass player who can be replaced by a keyboard.
For me the balance is to own the pocket but also take a look ‘round the front yard of the pocket once in a while. And not “notes” related but eye contact with the audience helps dispel the attitude too. Playing guitar is hard too. And if you’re honest, your bootay hears the bass but your ears are with the guitar for most people. I love being a bassist but I also love performing and writing so that’s my hill to die on, playing the bass doesn’t mean you have to play every stereotype.
This is why some bands don’t survive and this thread/circumstance reminds me of a scene in a movie I own and love watching…
I was on a jet and a Rasta dude behind me was screaming drunk on the flight and got into a shouting match with a crew member. The cops came when we landed and (honestly true story) as he was being escorted off by the police he shouted “they’re treating me like a bass player”! I couldn’t stop laughing.
Also his wife or GF was not amused.
Also his wife or GF was not amused.
Most of the time those guitarist are the same morons who also seem to oddly get fired or always have people leaving their bands. The biggest thing is putting yourself in others perspective, trying instruments like drums for example helped me understand drummers problems, also it's just fun to mess with other instruments. Most of those lead guitarist who act like that are young into their early high school years and when they don't break out of it, they wonder why they are still just making shredding videos on Instagram and not with bands... some are also just lucky jerks but at the same time the best way to avoid people like that is to move on and not interact with them, narcissistic people tend to not change their ways.
